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BVA president welcomes new Welsh training hub
Sean Wensley
"A new hub of veterinary expertise and excellence is an exciting initiative" - Sean Wensley.

Aberystwyth University training hub will help prepare 'vets of tomorrow'
 
Plans to open a new training hub at Aberystwyth University were welcomed this week by the BVA's president, Sean Wensley.

He said that while new veterinary courses come with "risks and opportunities", the hub will help to safeguard animal health, promote animal welfare and better support Welsh farmers.

Last week, Aberystwyth and the RVC announced a joint veterinary medicine programme that would focus on farming and livestock.

Speaking to guests at the BVA's annual Welsh dinner yesterday (21 June), Mr Wensley said the programme will help to prepare future vets with the training, skills and knowledge for their varied roles.

"A new hub of veterinary expertise and excellence is an exciting initiative that brings together the right resources to deliver a range of potential training opportunities to Wales’ vets of tomorrow.

"There are of course both risks and opportunities in increasing the number of veterinary undergraduate courses - particularly in ensuring that there are good clinical career prospects for graduates – but this hub will help safeguard animal health; promote animal welfare; and better support the farmers and other animal owners we work with across Wales."

Mr Wensley also renewed calls to the Welsh government to reconsider its TB eradication programme. While quarterly data shows the number of Welsh herds under restriction is at its lowest point in 10 years, he warned that TB statistics can fluctuate, "…which is why we're continuing to urge the government to reconsider its eradication programme to include the targeted and humane culling of badgers, by means of cage trapping and shooting only, particularly in light of the suspension of the badger vaccination programme."

Addressing 70 delegates at the dinner, the president also recognised Wales's many successes in terms of animal welfare, including new legislation to tackle horse fly-grazing, irresponsible dog breeding and the creation of a code of practice for the use of snares in fox control.

 

Article amended as in a previous version 'training hub' was referred to as 'vet school'

 

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.